Chapter 18: The Kiss That Never Should Have Happened, and the Death That Shouldn’t Have Mattered

Reincarnated as a Background Character — Boss Fell in Love With Me

Chapter 18: The Kiss That Never Should Have Happened, and the Death That Shouldn't Have Mattered

The Court was enveloped in an unsettling silence.

But outside its hallowed halls, the world was anything but quiet.

Not anymore.

Since the Pact had entered the precarious Phase IV, the entire system had begun to fray at the edges like an old tapestry, revealing the lurking chaos beneath. Subtle disturbances erupted all around—fleeting flickers of light, messages that glitched and distorted beyond recognition, and disorienting echoes that ricocheted through the castle's grand corridors. These sounds lingered like whispered secrets, and though no one dared to speak of them, their presence was felt profoundly.

The world grappled with its understanding of Raze.

Because the system struggled to define him.

That night, he found solace in the greenhouse.

Though, to call it a greenhouse would be misleading—a more fitting description might be a weary relic, a remnant of a burgeoning season long past. Above him, cracked panes of glass served as a fragile roof, letting in shards of moonlight while failing to contain the memories of magic that had once thrived here. The soil was a stubborn host, clinging to the remnants of power that had long since faded, yielding flowers that bloomed defiantly, not from vitality but from sheer spite. Their petals were dark as night, and their thorns were sharp; they were beautiful in their rebellion, existing solely because they refused to succumb to the dirt from which they sprouted.

Raze cherished this sanctuary.

It was within these crumbling walls that Velzeria discovered him, unadorned by the crown or the cloak that marked her status—just her.

At first, she remained silent, lost in her thoughts.

Finally, she broke the stillness with a voice tinged with nostalgia and uncertainty:

"I keep thinking of the dreamspace. Of the version of me that forgot everything."

He remained silent, his gaze drifting to the overgrown vines that clung to the walls.

She settled next to him, allowing the moment to stretch.

"Do you think I'm still her?" she asked, her eyes searching his for answers.

He turned towards her, focusing on her features with an intensity that spoke volumes.

"No," he replied quietly, as if the truth carried the weight of their intertwined fates. "I think she was waiting for you to remember."

An enveloping silence blanketed them.

It was not an awkward stillness; it felt tangible—real, raw, and significant.

Then, without ceremony, without warning—

She kissed him.

Not as an empress wielding power or a final boss closing a chapter.

But like a woman who had fought against the tide of dependency for so long that she had forgotten what it was to truly crave the warmth of another's presence.

The kiss was quiet yet profound.

Intentional, measured, and layered with unspoken emotions.

When she finally pulled away—

A flicker of fear danced in her eyes.

"You weren't supposed to be real," she whispered, vulnerability woven into her tone.

"Neither were you," he replied, the truth hanging stark between them.

[Pact Resonance: 100% Achieved]

[Warning: System Instability Detected]

[Emotional Sync Locked — No further increases possible]

[Permanent Classification: Soulbound]

They chose not to discuss it again.

Not the kiss that had altered the fabric of their relationship.

Not the weight of what it signified.

Not the frail barriers it shattered.

Because the dawn of the next day brought even darker news.

A message arrived quietly, slipping beneath their door like a thief in the night.

Not a decree from the Court.

Not a communication from a god of ancient times.

Not even a glitch from the crumbling system they had come to understand.

It was a handwritten letter, bearing no seal and no threats, just two chilling words:

"She's dead."

Beneath this stark declaration was a name that had escaped their lips for weeks, wrapped in the comfort of distance—Iris.

She had been a minor noble, a girl infused with light magic and a dream of returning to her beloved canvas. One of the few who had offered Raze kindness when he first stumbled into their chaotic lives.

She wasn't essential to the grand narrative.

Not a formidable boss character, nor a devious traitor, nor a mere pawn in someone else's game.

Just a girl who had smiled at him amidst the storm.

And now she was gone, swallowed by an abyss they couldn't begin to comprehend.

[Codex Update: IRIS – Status: Erased]

Cause: Unregistered. Outside the system's scope. Memory: Fragmented.

Traceability: Zero.

Velzeria stood frozen, the weight of the letter anchoring her to the spot.

Raze, overwhelmed by the crushing reality of their loss, sank to the floor.

"…It's starting," he murmured, the realization dawning upon him.

"What is?" she asked, her brow furrowing in concern.

"The system's retaliation. It's not targeting us directly. Instead, it's systematically erasing anyone who dared to make us feel like we mattered."

They performed what little rights they could for Iris.

But in truth, they found nothing to bury.

Yet the act held significance.

Because silence demanded a grave in which to rest.

Because a cherished memory required a name to honor it.

Because Iris, once a mere background character, had now become the catalyst that ignited the system's indiscriminate wrath.

That night, Raze found himself staring at the HUD.

And in the corner, a message flickered faintly, incessantly—

[You are not supposed to exist.]

[Please return to your role.]

[Please return to your role.]

[Please—]

He managed a bitter smile, the taste of irony lingering on his tongue.

With a decisive motion, he closed the menu.

And walked into Velzeria's room.

Not because he had any claim or right to invade her space.

But because she had left the door open, an invitation woven into her trust.

And because, deep down, she was already waiting for him.

To be continued...